Empowered: Celebrating Women Who Shaped Southern Nevada History

Clark County is home to many remarkable women—women who have forever transformed the political, economic, environmental, social, and cultural landscape of Southern Nevada. Despite facing significant challenges, these trailblazers seized opportunities, championed change, and fought to uplift their communities.

To honor these legacies during Women’s History Month, Clark County debuted the new exhibition Empowered: Women of Clark County at the Clark County Government Center. The exhibit features original artwork from over 30 local artists and written portraits spotlighting some of the most influential women in Southern Nevada history.

Meet Four Influential Women of Southern Nevada

Geoconda Argüello-Kline: Labor Leader and Workers’ Rights Advocate

Geoconda Argüello-Kline worked her way up through the ranks of Culinary Workers Union, Local 226 to become the first woman to serve as Secretary-Treasurer. Originally from Nicaragua, Argüello-Kline arrived in the United States as a political refugee in 1979 and relocated to the Las Vegas Valley in 1983. She began her career as a guest room attendant, and the poor working conditions prompted her to get involved with the Culinary Union to advocate for better working conditions. In 1990, she joined the staff of the Culinary Union and served as a Lead Organizer during the Frontier Hotel and Casino strike, one of the longest and most successful strikes in U.S. history.

Peg Crockett: Aviation Pioneer and Entrepreneur

Peg Crockett began flying as a teenager and transported military aircraft as part of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron during World War II. After the war, she married George Crockett, and they owned Alamo Airport. They sold their airfield to Clark County, and it became what is now Harry Reid International Airport. They continued to run and expand Alamo Airways and remained active in the aviation community.

Lubertha Johnson: Civil Rights Champion and Community Builder

A prominent Civil Rights leader in Southern Nevada, Lubertha Johnson served two terms as the president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP. She fought for the racial integration of casinos for African Americans seeking employment and entertainment. In addition, she founded Operation Independence, a non-profit organization focused on addressing poverty through educational and job training programs, including Head Start.

Jean Ford: Politician, Conservationist, and Women’s History Advocate

Arriving in Las Vegas in 1962, Jean Ford was a community activist dedicated to many projects, including protecting Red Rock National Conservation Area, creating the Clark County Library district, and preserving women’s history in Nevada. She served two terms in the Nevada State Assembly starting in 1972 and won a seat in the Nevada State Senate in 1978, focusing on the environment, education, and women’s rights.

Visit the Empowered Exhibition and Discover Clark County Women’s History

The Empowered: Women of Clark County exhibition is more than an art show—it’s a celebration of resilience, leadership, and vision. Women like Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Peg Crockett, Lubertha Johnson, and Jean Ford not only helped shape Southern Nevada’s history—they laid the foundation for its future. Their stories can inspire all of us to lead, serve, and create lasting change. 

References & Resources

• Annalise Orleck, Storming Caesars Palace: How Black Mothers Fought Their Own War on Poverty, 2005
• Claytee White, “The Roles of African American Women in the Las Vegas Gaming Industry, 1940-1980,” 1997
• Documenting the African American Experience in Las Vegas, A Project of the UNLV University Libraries
• Joanne Goodwin, Changing the Game: Women at Work in Las Vegas, 1940-1990, 2014
• Las Vegas Women Oral History Project, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Special Collections and Archives
• Maribel Estrada Calderón, “The Frontier of the Labor Movement: Latinas and the Longest Strike in Twentieth-Century Las Vegas,” 2021
• Nevada Women’s History Project